Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday clarified that the police presence near Vice President Sara Duterte’s residence in Davao City is part of standard security protocol and not an operation directed against her or her family.

Speaking at a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Remulla said police personnel are regularly stationed in the area to help secure the Vice President’s residence and nearby establishments.

“Sa bahay nila sa Davao, laging may police presence sa labas ng bahay, and that’s because of the establishment katabi niya… So hindi ‘yan that night lang, every day ‘yan: nagbabantay sa residence nila,” Remulla said.

The clarification came after Duterte expressed concern for the safety of her family, claiming that her mother and children were harassed at their family home in Davao City.

Remulla categorically denied that the police presence was intended to harass or intimidate Duterte’s family, stressing that personnel did not enter the residence.

“Never did we enter her house to harass her mother or her children. Gabi-gabi naman andiyan talaga ‘yan (police presence), just to provide deterrents kung may gustong mangyari kay Vice President,” he said.

The DILG chief emphasized that the deployment was neither a one-time operation nor an extraordinary security measure, but part of the regular police presence maintained in the area consistent with established security procedures.

He stressed that the role of the police is to maintain peace and order and protect the public, including the Vice President and her family, and that routine security measures should not be misconstrued as harassment or intimidation.